Austin is King of Saturday Night

You know why I moved to Austin? Well, that's a complicated answer but this Saturday night is a great example of what you're missing if you don't live here. Tomorrow night we have: Girl Talk, L.A.X., Yeasayer, Vampire Weekend, and Elton John all performing at different venues around the city. How do you like that for a spectrum of respectable artists throughout various genres? Eh? Eh? The down-side to this is, which show do you choose?

Well there are many factors here, do you have a butt-load of cash? No? Well, then Elton John is out. Are you over 21 years of age or older? No? Well, you're probably not reading my site but if you are, then head to UT youngin' that's where Girl Talk is playing (for free). Are you making a last minute decision to go out? Yes? Well, then, Vampire Weekend is out unless you want to buy scalped tickets on the street. Looks like Yeasayer it is, lucky for you that was my number one pick and tickets are available now that the show has been moved from the Parish to La Zona Rosa


Yeasayer - O.N.E. video via YouTube

Sorry for the lame, fake video. There is an OFFICIAL video, which is weird and beautiful and viewable here but alas I can not embed it. *le sigh*


Do you like how I threw L.A.X. in there with all of those brand-name bands above the break? Well, in case you're not in on the joke L.A.X. is a little Austin band that are just making ripples in the scene so far but I really enjoy them. I saw them perform at the Blue Stage during FunFunFun Fest this year and they put on a great show. They also expanded both in their sound and their numbers within the last few years and they seem to be picking up steam. I see the possibility for big things in their future if they meet the right people and/or hit the right eyes and ears. Let them hit your eyes and ears, at the LXM Pro party with Bright Light Social Hour. Enter the code "ATXBLOG" to get your ticket for almost half price.


L.A.X. - Dire Fire video via YouTube

I feel like Elton John doesn't really need any attention from me or my readers, I recognize that he is an icon and we're moving on. What is there to say about Girl Talk that hasn't been said before? I'll just sum up the Girl Talk experience in three simple words: sweaty, laptop, party.


Girl Talk - Bounce That video via YouTube

Might I add that Vampire Weekend and Elton John are the two artists in this post who are NOT FunFunFun Fest alumna. I don't know who deserves the praise in this scenario but I feel like hands should be shakin' upon this realization.


Vampire Weekend - Giving Up the Gun video via YouTube

If you're hearing the above VW song for the first time thinking WTF happened to their sound?!?! I should clue you into what its members were doing between albums in their off-time.


Discovery - Osaka Loop Line video via YouTube

Exhibit B:


the Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa video via YouTube

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BLK JKS Tomorrow

I feel like I have probably mentioned this show once or twice already but I wanted to remind y'all that tomorrow night BLK JKS will be back in Austin for the first time since their LP was released. I had a chance to catch this S. African band at SXSW '07 and they blew me away. Their music is instantly classic yet completely fresh at the same time. Given that a ticket will only set you back about $10 you should probably check them out. I suspect that the next time they swing through town they will be exponentially more famous then they are today. For some reason I truly expect them to be playing Coachella, Lollapalooza and all that business next summer. So catch 'em now while no one has heard of them yet.


BLK JKS - Molalatladi video via YouTube


Speaking of exciting, up-and-coming, African artists, I picked up Warm Heart of Africa by the Very Best yesterday. I had the mixtape from last year and I have been playing it quite a bit lately. But it's that title track, Warm Heart of Africa that has really made a home in my brain. BLK JKS actually spent some time in the studio with the Very Best contributing some instrumentation and vocals to their LP. I don't expect to see the Very Best here in Austin until SXSW but I did notice they will be doing some showcases in NYC for CMJ Fest later this month. If you're going to be in the city be sure to check them out.


the Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa video via YouTube

Oh, and yes that was Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend fame. That guy has been popping up all over the place lately. First he was on that track Carby by VW/Ra Ra Riot side-project, Discovery now this, the Very Best track. Up next is a new Vampire Weekend LP, the first track of which, can already be downloaded from their official site.


Discovery - Carby video via YouTube

The Emo's site doesn't say whether BLK JKS is an inside or outside show but I would venture to guess that's it's going to be an indoor event. If you get there early enough you can check out local artists, Wine and Revolution as well as TV Torso.


TV Torso - Live @ the Scoot Inn video via YouTube

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